Carsut – Understand cars and drive better

Category: Car Reviews

Carsut’s Review Team (CRT) do our best to test drive new and used cars and bring it out to our readers. Images and videos are added for better understanding.

  • Mazda3 2.0 Sedan Review

    Mazda3

    As long as there are cars, any small-scale Motor Show will be interesting enough if they display a car that suits your needs, and you have put a down payment to book the car of your choice. Here is one Mazda3 2.0 Sedan appearing in a small-scale Motor Show, or better known as small-size Motor Sales in Bangkok that really catches our eye.

    Exterior

    Mazda3 sedan

    The Mazda3 2.0 is available in four-door sedan and hatchback body style. The one we are viewing is the 2012 sedan model that looks sportier compared to all its previous generations. It was treated with bold halogen projector headlamps, some really cool LED lamp for better illumination, and a set of 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/45 series tires that perform well on all kind of driving surfaces. What is most important is when you view the car from the front, the car face (front grill) always smiles at you with a pair of dimples (fog lamps).

    Interior

    Mazda3 interior

    If you place your face to the driver’s side window and peep into the interior, you will salivate on the window. The cabin is unbelievably spacious. It does not look that big from the outside. There is also plenty of room in the trunk and if that is not enough, the 60/40 split-folding rear seat is able to create more room. High quality leather seats and a fully functional steering wheel with paddle shift make anyone wants to sit on the driver’s seat and go for a drive. If you switch on the ignition, the blackout meter will immediately turn to blue-illumination. The light can be switched to red or white through the touch of dial. Besides beautiful design, the interior features serve many useful functions such as auto wipers with rain sensor, auto cruise control, nice audio system with six speakers, Tilt and Telecospic adjustable steering, and an auto dimming rear view mirror.

    Power and Performance

    The 2012 model has a new optional 2.0-liter MZR four-cylinder engine that develops 145 hp at 6,500 rpm and 182 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. The fuel injection system is controlled electronically by the ECU itself. The front suspension uses an independent MacPherson strut with coil spring and double acting shock absorbers. As for rear suspension, an E-Type mult-link with low profile springs and cylindrical double acting shock absorbers are used. Both the front and rear suspensions have contributed well enough to make the handling more precise and the response faster. It has the feeling of driving a sedan race car. The renowned engineering of the car has earned over 77 automotive awards, this has really proven something.

    At the back of the car under the trunk, it is equipped with four rear parking sensors which are camouflaged with the same body color. It helps a lot in any kind of driving situations especially parallel parking or reverse parking.

    Mazda3 trunk

    Fuel Economy

    30 mpg city and 40 mpg highway; 12.75 km/l city and 17 km/l highway.

    What is good about this car?

    • Safety is what we are concerned about. The Mazda3 features dual front airbags, side and curtain airbags, traction control, and 4W-ABS + EBD + BA brake system. Front wheels are equipped with ventilated discs and rear wheels with solid disc brake.
    • The Mazda3 is made available in a few variants. If the 2.0-liter engine is too powerful, there is an alternative to go for the 1.6-liter engine. If it is inadequate, there is always an option to go for the 2.5-liter engine which delivers more power.
    • Good visibility for drivers.
    • Good fuel tank capacity at 55 liter.
    Mazda3 allow wheel
    Mazda3’s 17-inch alloy wheels – Click on the image to enlarge it.

    What is not so good about this car?

    • Fuel economy is impressive for highway drive but not city drive.
    • The suspension gives a good feeling for most people but it could be too hard for some – this is very much an individual perspective.
    • The car is still using the old type wiper.

    Price

    • Thailand: 1,025,000 baht
    • United States: MSRP from $15,200
    • United Kingdom: £18,025
    • Malaysia: RM119,774 (Metallic)

    Mazda3’s competitors and similar cars: Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cruze, Honda City, Kia Forte, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, Ford Fiesta, Ford Fusion, Peugeot 308, Nissan Almera, and Mitsubishi Lancer.

    In conclusion, the Mazda3 (or some called it Mazda 3) is the choice for consumers who prefer something different from all its competitors or similar cars listed above. Quiet cabin, luxury interior, and comfortable drive are what attract consumers the most. The car catches many eyes in the mini motor show and it will definitely give a bit of attention on the road.

    Mazda3 side mirror 2012 Mazda3 Mazda3

    Mazda3 leather seats Mazda3 rear seat Mazda3 wiper

  • Honda Insight: One of the cheapest cars to own

    2012 Honda Insight
    There are reasons why the Honda Insight is getting more and more on the road and the sales keeps on increasing. Is it because it is cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, and gives really good fuel mileage? Let us share our reviews on the all-new 2012 Honda Insight and see if these are true. Thanks to Jeremy who had invited us to test drive his 2012 Honda Insight which he has just driven the car out of the show room last month. It is a one-month old baby and everything is brand new when we check out the car. We can still taste the new car smell in when driving it.

    Jeremy paid RM99,800 to drive the car out of the Honda Showroom. These include the car price of RM96,686.65, insurance for a year RM2743.35, road tax for a year RM70 due to its engine capacity, and a few hundred dollars for handling fee, endorsement fee, and registration fee.

    The Insight features a 1.3L i-VTEC four-cylinder IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) engine that produces 88 hp and 121 Nm. The motor itself produces 14 PS and 78 Nm which is a significant improvement compared to the previous models. The maximum combined output is 98 hp and 123 Nm of torque. The hybrid system also consists of a nickel-metal hydride battery pack which is stored in the cargo floor below the spare tire. The power is transferred from the engine to the front wheels through the famous CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) system.

    Design of The Car

    Honda Insight

    It is charming, silky, and the aerodynamics of the car is great. Together with a set of 16” alloy rims and 185/55R16 tires, we can also see some image from the first generation Insight that was introduced in 1999. The 2012 model features a new pair of headlights that wear a blue tint highlight. The rear lights have been modified for better visibility.

    The overall height of the car is 4,395mm but when one of our crew members with the height of 175cm sat on the driver’s seat, he can feel his head hitting the roof. Taller drivers may need to modify the height of the seat for more comfortable drive. The rear seats are a little bit cramped too. The boot is quite big and large items can be pushed into the car with the rear seats fold down. The space of the boot is one reason that makes Jeremy decide to take this car rather than the Prius.

    Honda Insight rear view

    Road Test

    We didn’t really rev the car very fast because it is still a new-born baby to the owner. Jeremy allowed us to drive his car up till 120 km/h (75 mph) and try the performance of the car from 0 to 100 km/h. We drove the car for a few kilometers and it gave us the feeling that says, “Just go as far as you want, the fuel will take care of itself”. The cabin is quiet during the ride but there are not enough leg rooms for rear seats. It took us about 11 seconds to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h, a few seconds faster than the Honda Civic but a split of a second slower than what it is written in the brochure. It could be due to the gas pedal not fully stepped.

    At the right hand side of the steering wheel, there is a cruise control button where driver can set and maintain a steady speed for long journey drives. This will give better mileage. Besides, there are also a lot of gadgets to play around. These gadgets are mostly related to the hybrid system.

    Honda Insight interior

    Fuel Economy

    41 city/44 highway mpg; 17.4 city/18.7 highway km/l; It is impressive but it does not measure up to the Toyota Prius which rated at 53 city/46 highway mpg.

    What is good about this car?

    The Honda Insight is without a doubt a great 4-door hatchback and also one of the cheapest cars to own this year. According to Yahoo, the average 5-year fuel cost is $6,508, the average 5-year insurance cost is $5,487, resulting in the total 5-year ownership cost of $29,786 in the U.S. It has been proven that the Insight is cheap to buy, cheap to maintain because spare parts are inexpensive, and most important it is enjoyable to drive. This also explains why the 2000 Honda Insight has been ranked as the most efficient Environment Protection Agency (EPA) certified gasoline-fueled vehicle ever. Besides fuel economy, the 2012 Honda Insight scores an overall of Good results from the IIHS crash test.

    Honda Insight

    What is not so good about the car?

    The only concern about buying a hybrid is the replacement of the battery pack that could be costly. The car battery enjoys a warranty of up to 253,000 km (157,000 miles) of use or 10 years. The battery pack will cost around US$2000 dollars and an extra of US$900 dollars for the installation. During our test drive, we notice that the car engine shuts off with auto-off engine at traffic lights and the air-conditioning is off too.

    Honda Insight interior

    Price

    • United States: MSRP from $18,350
    • United Kingdom: Price from £16,995 OTR (On The Road)
    • Malaysia: As of 2012, only one model available at RM99,800 OTR.

    Honda Insight’s main competitor: Toyota Prius is, and always is, the first challenger for the Insight. Although the Insight has undergone great improvements, it still has a long way to go to catch up with the Prius as far as the headroom, legroom, and fuel mileage are concerned. The Insight’s mileage is not as good as that of Prius but it is still one of the most popular hybrid cars with cheap selling price. Other than that, the 16.1 overall steering ratio, 5.17m turning radius at wheel, and 11m turning radius at body make it more fun to drive compared to the Prius.

    Honda Insight’s similar cars: Lexus CT 200h Hybrid, Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid, Honda CR-Z, Honda Jazz/Honda Fit, Toyota Prius C, and Ford Fusion Hybrid.

    In conclusion, the Honda Insight has proven that hybrids will not make a dent in your pocket. It is a hybrid car that can hug the road and the planet at the same time.

    Honda Insight

  • Isuzu D-Max vs. Mazda BT-50

    Mazda BT-50 and Isuzu D-Max
    The Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50 may not be competing head-to-head or foot-to-foot in the marketplace but there is a necessity to discuss both their strong points and weak points. Let’s start with the more popular Isuzu D-Max (known as Chevrolet Colorado in the U.S.) which has been in the market for a longer period compared to the BT-50. It was first introduced in 2002 and it has been in the market for more than a decade. The Mazda BT-50 (Ford Ranger) came later in 2006 but it has become one of the main choices when buying a pickup truck.

    Performance and Power

    Isuzu D-Max
    The Isuzu D-Max Pro features a 2.5LS in-line 4-cylinder direct injection diesel turbo engine that delivers 58kW at 3900 rpm and 176 Nm of torque at 1800rpm. Using independent double wishbones with torsion bar springs and stabilizer in the front and semi-elliptical leaf springs in the back, the vehicle’s rigidity is a lot better compare to the previous generation.

    Mazda BT-50
    The Mazda BT-50 is fitted with a 2.5L 4-cylinder 12-valve SOHC indirect injection turbo engine that delivers 80kW at 3500rpm and 257 Nm or torque at 2000rpm. As for the suspension, Mazda uses independent double wishbones with torsion bar springs in the front and rigid leaf spring in the back.

    Design and Reliability

    Isuzu D-Max vs Mazda BT-50
    The D-Max is made available in either two doors or four doors. The four-door version can carry up to five adults comfortably as the leg room for the rear seats is roomy. The 2+2 door gives an easy way for rear passengers to get in and out. Unlike what you see in the BT-50, it has a very limited space at the back of the front seats. The jump seats in the supercab are ridiculously small and it seems enough to fit a child but not an adult. With only one door at each side, the rear passengers may find it difficult to get into the car.

    Mazda BT-50 rear seat
    (Rear space for Mazda BT-50)

    The overall length for the D-Max is 5030mm and 5169mm for the BT-50. So where does the extra length for the BT-50 go to? The BT-50 has a bigger cargo space compare to the D-Max. The BT-50 is more suitable for hauling heavier loads or performing other functions compared to the D-Max. However, the D-Max is more reliable as a family pickup and also capable of hauling loads. It depends on the buyer’s choice.

    Isuzu D-Max rear seat
    (Isuzu D-Max rear seat)

    The D-Max has an overall width of 1800mm while the BT-50 is 1807mm, a difference of only 7mm. Compare both car heights, the BT-50 is slightly taller at 1762mm and the D-Max is 1735mm.

    Weight

    Vehicle Gross Vehicle Weight (kg) Seating Capacity
    Isuzu D-Max 2650 5
    Mazda BT-50 2800 2+2 small jump seats

    Interior

    The interior of pickups often does not look nice. The interior of the D-Max looks mediocre and the steering wheel looks outdated although it has been redesigned. The Mazda BT-50 is about the same but the dashboard and interior design does not look like a typical pickup truck. The gear knob is designed to look slightly cyber and the gauge lights are pretty too.

    Fuel Consumption

    Vehicle Fuel Consumption (MPG) Fuel Tank Capacity (Liter)
    Isuzu D-Max 18 city/25 highway 76
    Mazda BT-50 22 city/27 highway 70

    Isuzu D-Max’s characteristic: Fog lamps with bezel, oval tube aluminium side steps, LED high mount stop lamp, door visors, rubber mats, reverse sensors, and pro-lid. You can also get a better version, the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross.

    Mazda BT-50’s characteristic: Five-point grille, powerful-looking alloy wheels, rear combination lamp, and with many chrome-plated parts.

    Price

    • Isuzu D-Max: RM81,129.40.
    • Mazda BT-50: RM88,170.00.

    Their competitors or similar cars: Toyota Hilux, Nissan Navara, Mitsubishi Triton, Ford Ranger, and Chevrolet Colorado.

    Isuzu D-Max images

    Isuzu DMax Isuzu D-Max rear cargo Dmax interior Isuzu D-max logo

    Mazda BT-50 images

    Mazda BT-50 Mazda BT-50 Cargo Mazda BT-50 interior Mazda BT50 side view

    After reading the above comparison of the Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50, which do you choose?

  • Toyota Camry: A Review On An Established Brand

    Toyota Camry
    We were given a chance to get our hands on the best selling cars inAmerica, the Toyota Camry. The owner, Jack Dawson, a 36-year-old business owner shares with us his experience driving a Camry and also the maintenance fees he paid for the car over the years. Jack purchased the car in 2009 and up to date, the car has run 52,000 km at the time we reviewed it. There are rumors that 200,000 km for a Toyota Camry is nothing, it doesn’t hurt the car. Today, we will test drive the car and see if the rumors are true.

    Jack’s Camry is a 2009 model. It is the 2.4V full specs variant which features the 2AZ-FE engine. Jack has a philosophy; if someone wants to spend over a hundred thousand for a car, why not just throw in another thirty thousand to get a better engine, better performance, better interior, and more features? That is the reason he chose the 2.4V instead of the cheaper version 2.0G or 2.0E.

    The 2AZ-FE is a 4-cylinder 16-valve DOHC engine with VVT-i. The 2.4-liter engine delivers 167PS of power at 6,000 rpm, and has a maximum torque of 224Nm at 4,000 rpm. Well, that’s all written in the brochure and let’s put our hand on it and see if it is really satisfying.

    Toyota Camry 2.4V Road Test

    Toyota Camry

    As usual, we will ask the permission from the owner if we are allowed to “rape” the car a little. Jack is an understanding person and he allowed us to do whatever we like with the car. We brought the car to an expressway together with the owner and tried it up till 185 km/h (112 mph). We felt safe up till 165 to 170 km/h on a straight road but we started to feel a little uncomfortable to go beyond this speed with so many cars around. We slowed down when the car reached 185 km/h. The reason is we were testing the car on an expressway but not in the track. However, we felt there is a little leeway from the steering when the speed reached 180 km/h. Other than that, everything else worked perfect; the car performed really well at high speed. It is not only written in the brochure but the car itself proved it.

    We test the car again for cornering, parallel/side parking, and also emergency braking. The Camry runs smooth when negotiating sharp corners. The emergency brake is also satisfactory with the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist (BA).

    As for the parallel parking, drivers below 160cm (5’2) may find it difficult to drive the Camry compared to the Honda Jazz. Although the Camry features front and rear parking sensors with wing mirror, a short person will find it difficult to estimate the position of the car. The XV40 is 4,825mm in length, 1,820mm in width, and 1,470mm in height. For people who are taller than 160cm, it is definitely a joy to own this car.

    Toyota Camry Maintenance Cost

    2009 Toyota Camry

    Jack has been maintaining the car according to the Owner’s Manual and repair guide. In order to maintain the car in the best condition, Jack sends the car toToyotaservice center based on the maintenance schedule and never walked into any other workshops. According to Jack, here is what he has spent for the car over the years.

    No Price (RM) Description
    1 97.50 First service
    2 97.20 Second basic service
    3 63.60 Third basic service
    4 268.20 Fourth basic service
    5 2860 New set of wheels
    6 467.20 Engine oil, oil filter, and basic service
    7 178.80 Alignment and balancing
    8 330 Safety lock
    9 150 Steering lock
    10 1260 Four tires
    11 615.50 Spark plugs, distributors points, drive belts (including air-cond belts), wiper blades, brake lining and pads, filters, refrigerant, receiver drier, lubricants and fluids.
    12 275 Engine oil and oil filters
    13 206.95 Engine oil and oil filters

    Fuel Consumption

    21 city/31 highway mpg or 8.9 city/13.2 km/liter.

    What is good about the car?

    It is easy to sell it off when you want to change to another car. The Toyota Camry has a high resale value. It is a popular car and it is also a car that many consumers will think of buying. The cabin ambience is first-class at 130 to 150 km/h. It is also spacious enough to carry six adults comfortably. Spare parts are available almost everywhere across the country; either new or used parts. As for the boot, it is big enough to fit a mid-size bicycle.

    Toyota Camry rear boot

    What is not so good about the car?

    No vehicles are 100% perfect, so are the Camry.Toyota recalled the Camry several times over the years in the U.S. because of some defects. The most recent recall affects the 2007-2010 models. Although the interior is nicely crafted, we notice there are some parts made of low-quality plastics.

    Price

    • Malaysia: RM175,007.10 for Toyota Camry 2.4 V
    • United States: MSRP from $23,000
    • Thailand: 1,449,000 baht for Camry 2.4 G; 1,619,000 baht to 1,799,999 baht for Camry Hybrid ECVT; 1,699,000 baht for Camry Hybrid Extremo; 2,909,000 baht for Camry 3.5 Q.

    Toyota Camry’s competitor or other similar cars: Honda Accord, Chevrolet Impala, Ford Fusion, Mazda 6, Lincoln MKZ, Toyota Camry Solara, Holden Apollo, Toyota Scepter, and Toyota Vienta.

    “My ass is pretty comfortable on the leather seat”, said Jack. Well, it is a wonderful sedan car that even comforts Jack’s ass.

    Toyota Camry Toyota Camry Toyota Camry interior Toyota camry interior and steering

    Toyota Camry interior Camry gear knob Toyota Camry rear seat Camry boot

  • Nissan March: The Cheapest Nissan Cars To Own In Thailand

    Nissan March
    Starting from 380,000 baht (US$12,500), the Nissan March is the cheapest brand new Nissan you can buy in Thailand. In the U.S., it is known as Nissan Micra. It isn’t odd that the same car has few different names in different places. What is more important is, if it is worth to own one?

    The youthfulness March features a 1.2-liter engine (HR12DE) that develops 79 horsepower and 106 nm at 4,400 rpm. Thanks to the high torque output at low engine speeds, the car accelerates well and it gives good fuel consumption. The most stunning thing about the March is the 4.5 meters turning radius that makes it easy to turn. Together with the windscreen design that has great visibility, it makes the hardest parallel parking become easy. Without doubt, it is cute and most suitable for city use especially in a city like Bangkok. (more…)